What about anticoagulation in patients at high risk for bleeding

What about anticoagulation in patients at high risk for bleeding? 

Although elderly patients are at high risk for bleeding they are also at high risk for stroke from atrial fibrillation; thus, age is not a contraindication to anticoagulation.

Contraindications include history of severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, history of falls, or an extremely high fall risk.

The HAS-BLED score is a simple method for assessing bleeding risk. After stroke, many patients are at risk for falls: as they recover, reconsider anticoagulation.

The decision for anticoagulation should be an ongoing collaborative discussion of the risks, benefits, and monitoring schedule so that the patient can make an informed decision.

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